Spinning Spiral Illusion

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This Spinning Spiral Illusion uses the phenomenon peripheral drift to create the illusion of motion.

When you view the image directly, there doesn’t appear to be much movement. However, when you are looking close, but not directly at the image (from your periphery) the image will seem to spin.

So, when you are reading this text, the object will appear to spin, but you can stop the motion by looking directly at the image.

If you are interested in the learning more about the Spinning Spiral Illusion peripheral drift, scroll down to learn more about it.

Spinning Spiral Illusion


Table of Contents

What is the Spinning Spiral Illusion?

The Spinning Spiral Illusion is a type of peripheral drift illusion which creates the impression of motion in a stationary image. The illusion was discovered by American psychologist and artist Roger Shepard in 1990.

The peripheral drift illusion typically involves a pattern of concentric circles or spirals that are arranged in a way that creates the impression of motion in the periphery of the visual field. The illusion occurs because the patterns create conflicting cues about the direction of motion, which can cause the visual system to perceive motion where none exists.

One common example of the peripheral drift illusion is the Pinna-Brelstaff illusion, which was discovered by Italian neuroscientist and artist Massimo Pinna and British artist Patrick Brelstaff in 2000. In this illusion, a series of black and white wedges are arranged in a spiral pattern. When the image is fixated, the wedges appear to be moving in a circular motion, despite the fact that they are actually stationary.

The peripheral drift illusion is thought to occur because the pattern of the concentric circles or spirals creates a gradient of motion signals that conflicts with other motion signals in the visual field. This conflict can create the impression of motion in the periphery, even when the image is actually stationary.

The peripheral drift illusion is a fascinating example of how the brain processes visual information and can create the illusion of motion where none exists.

How does the Spinning Spiral Illusion Work?

The Spinning Spiral Illusion is a peripheral drift illusion which works by exploiting the way the visual system processes visual information in the periphery of the visual field. When we fixate our eyes on a particular point, our visual system processes information in a way that prioritizes the information in the fovea, the central region of the retina where visual acuity is highest. As a result, the information in the periphery of the visual field is processed differently than information in the fovea.

The peripheral drift illusion typically involves a pattern of concentric circles or spirals that are arranged in a way that creates conflicting cues about the direction of motion. For example, the pattern may include alternating black and white regions that are arranged in a spiral pattern. When the image is fixated, the conflicting motion cues can create the impression of motion in the periphery of the visual field, even though the image itself is stationary.

The conflicting motion cues in the peripheral drift illusion can arise from several different sources. One source is the radial pattern of the concentric circles or spirals, which can create the impression of motion toward or away from the center of the pattern. Another source is the alternating contrast between different regions of the pattern, which can create the impression of motion in different directions.

The exact mechanisms behind the peripheral drift illusion are not fully understood, but it is thought to involve a complex interplay between different areas of the brain involved in visual processing. Some researchers have suggested that the illusion may involve interactions between the visual cortex and the neurons in the retina, while others have suggested that it may involve top-down processing from higher brain areas. Nonetheless, the peripheral drift illusion is a fascinating example of how the brain can create the illusion of motion where none exists.

Some Similar Illusions

There are several other illusions that are similar to the Spinning Spiral Illusion and also create the impression of motion in a stationary image. Here are a few examples:

  1. Fraser spiral illusion: This illusion was discovered by British psychologist Sir James Fraser in 1908 and involves a spiral pattern of black and white wedges. When the image is fixated, the wedges appear to be rotating, even though the image is stationary.
  2. Lilac chaser illusion: This illusion involves a series of 12 colored circles arranged in a circle on a black background. When the viewer fixates on the center of the circle and the outermost circle is removed, the remaining circles appear to rotate in a circle and a “lilac chaser” appears in the location where the removed circle was located.
  3. Rotating snakes illusion: This illusion involves a series of overlapping circles and arcs of different colors arranged in a circular pattern. When the image is fixated, the overlapping patterns appear to rotate in a circle.

These illusions, like the peripheral drift illusion, rely on the visual system’s processing of motion cues in the periphery of the visual field to create the impression of motion. They are all fascinating examples of how the brain can create complex visual experiences from simple visual inputs.

Discovery of the Spinning Spiral Illusion

The Spinning Spiral Illusion is a type of peripheral drift illusion which was discovered by American psychologist and artist Roger Shepard in 1990. Shepard is well known for his work on visual perception and cognitive psychology, and he has made significant contributions to our understanding of how the brain processes visual information. The peripheral drift illusion is just one example of the many fascinating optical illusions that Shepard has helped to uncover over the course of his career.


References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.